Jenson Button may not yet be a world champion but, according to Sir Jackie Stewart, he is driving like one, with the Scot comparing him to one of the all-time greats in Alain Prost.

Frenchman Prost won four world titles between 1985 to 1993 with a driving style that belied the fact he was behind the wheel of one of the most powerful cars on the planet. Nicknamed 'The Professor', Prost caressed cars through grands prix, enabling him to win 51 of the 199 races he started.

"Jenson is an effortless driver who doesn't bully a car; he smoothly and gently conducts a car," Stewart told PA Sport.

Naturally, Button's statistics are not in the same league but, in winning six of this season's first seven races, he would appear to be a world champion in waiting.

It has also resulted in Brawn GP owner Ross Brawn continually being asked of late to compare the Briton to Michael Schumacher.

Understandably so given Brawn was an instrumental figure in helping Schumacher win all seven of his titles with Benetton and Ferrari.

But, as far as three-time world champion Stewart is concerned, Button significantly reminds the 70-year-old of Prost and his fluent driving style.

Stewart added: "He is driving as well today as any driver I've seen in recent years.

"The only person I can compare him with in that respect is probably Prost. He was the epitome of a smooth, gentle driver.

"There were not a lot of hand movements on the steering wheel, not a lot of correcting errors. He was absolutely on top of it, and not at all bullying the car, just like Jenson."